Six lessons from the Six Nations 2015

‘Excitement’ is not the best word to describe the events of Saturday 20th March 2015; ‘Exhilaration’, ‘Intensity’, ‘Tension’ are better. Thanks to the staggered schedule, rugby fans had a chance to crack out their calculators and recall that GCSE mental maths to build significance on every moment to its pulsating maximum.

But now, I’m feeling woozy- and it’s not to do with the Guinness! In these rare moments of calm after the storm, there are lessons to be learnt from the Six Nations 2015. I’ve limited the lessons to six because…. well, you figure it out.

1) Ireland’s discipline will bring World Cup success 

If you’re not aware of this already, Ireland won the Six Nations. The green flag will wave again as Paul O’Connell captained his side to a second consecutive Grand Slam. The seeds have been well and truly sown for a fairy-tale ending to his career.

Ireland finished the tournament scoring 119 points and only conceding 56. However, their success does not lie solely in their attacking ability but in their discipline. They have a knack for drawing the opposing team into fouls and squeezing the penalty points out, like pips from an orange. Against Scotland, Ireland won all 10 of their scrums and all 8 of their lineouts. They converted 4 out of the 7 penalties they were awarded. Throughout the tournament, an average of 12.6 penalties were awarded in their favour.

The same can be said of the autumn internationals last year. In a 49-7 victory over Georgia, 95% of lineouts and 80% of scrums were won. Similar stats were seen in the 29-15 victory over South Africa and the 26-23 victory over Australia. Ireland’s discipline in the ruck will put them in the optimum position to gain extra points to accompany their powerful attacking force. O’Connell, I can faintly smell that cherry for the top of your cake.

 The green flag will wave again as Paul O’Connell captained his side to a second consecutive Grand Slam. The seeds have been well and truly sown for a fairy-tale ending to his career.

 

2) England will not give up!

I’m a bit of a sucker for funny phrases but unfortunately ‘Lancaster Time’ doesn’t have the same ring to it as ‘Fergie Time’- anyway, point is England have been the tournament’s come-back specialists, reigniting on four occasions (Wales, Scotland and France twice). But this is not down to luck.England possessed the most prolific attacking force of the competition. They boasted pace in Mike Brown, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph as well as strength in Ben Youngs, Billy Vunipola and Courtney Lawes.

England achieved 54 clean breaks, 2,643 metres and 118 beaten opposition defenders. The stunning victory over France highlighted England’s favouritism for pace from the ruck; they won 79 rucks compared to France’s 101 but played 143 passes to France’s 169. Indeed, England’s pace from the back declares them the reges resugentes of the Six Nations. But will the fires reignite as easily in September? Looking back to the autumn internationals, England’s only victory came against Australia 24-17.

However, the team that day was very different to the one that lit up the Six Nations. The Southern Hemisphere teams had better try hard to keep those phoenix fires extinguished.

England have been the tournament’s come-back specialists, reigniting on four occasions (Wales, Scotland and France twice). But this is not down to luck

3) Continental weaknesses in defence are clear

There were no surprises from France and Italy as they failed to prevent the marches of Wales, England and Ireland.

France were too predictable at the weekend; England maintained a wide line in order to force France into contact. On the five occasions England failed to concentrate, Les Bleus delivered the ball to Nakaitaci and he was off! Yet, when in contact, France were frail; 81% of successful tackles against 87% and 92.7% successful rucks against 96.1%- at this level, small margins lead to penalty points conceded.

To the Eternal City and Italy continued their ‘Top Gear’ impression: ambitious but rubbish. They scored 62 points but conceded a hefty 182, partly thanks to George North. Watching them, I can’t help feeling they run away from contact- 56 successful rucks against Wales was a tournament low. Whilst the fast hands are lovely to watch on a rugby field, there was never an end result and all that fancy passing left players out of position, open to counter-attack. A look back to the Gauls and Romans would help these continental teams get some balls and organisation they will need for this World Cup.

 

There were no surprises from France and Italy as they failed to prevent the marches of Wales, England and Ireland.

4) Wales & Scotland could surprise in September

Whilst France and Italy have been their regular selves, Wales and Scotland have been their irregular selves. Wales allowed England to slip away on the very first day of the tournament and Scotland have ended up with a respectable 73 points gained.

The best word to sum up these two teams, who apply very similar playing styles, is balance. Against Scotland, Wales achieved 83 successful rucks alongside 132 successful passes; against Italy 73 rucks were balanced with 163 passes. Scotland’s statistics emphasise a similar notion- against Ireland, they achieved 78 rucks and 144 passes.

In the autumn internationals, Wales tasted victory against Fiji but lost our 28-33 to Australia and 16-34 to New Zealand. In the ‘Braveheart’ camp, the Scots defeated Argentina and Tonga but lost to New Zealand 16-24. Wales and Scotland have provided a hint of the unexpected which will carry on in September. Who knows? Maybe Scotland will advance further than Wales.

 The best word to sum up these two teams, who apply very similar playing styles, is balance.

5) The World Cup groups will be tasty affairs

This year, the Six Nations featured an extra element; a glimpse into the near future. In September, the Rugby World Cup will descend on the many rugby-loving cities of England, except Rugby itself (bit odd).The groups were announced last year and, thanks to the Six Nations, we can speak with a little more certainty on those groups.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Group A is the most competitive group. Wales and England will contend with Australia for the two quarter-final places- oh yeah, with Fiji and Uruguay too. Last year, England beat Australia and Wales didn’t- see where my predictions are coming from now?

In Group B, Scotland represents the Northern Hemisphere up against USA and Japan. South Africa and Samoa will make for sturdy competition, but Scotland’s resilience in the Six Nations should bring optimism. Group C belongs to New Zealand but Argentina will compete with Tonga, Georgia and Namibia for the last spot.Group D is an entirely North Hemisphere affair as France, Ireland and Italy will hope to prevent any shocks from Canada and Romania.

If we only take one thing from the 2015 Six Nations, it’s that there is enough quality to contend for the title.

 

6) There’s a once in a lifetime event on the horizon
There are aspects of rugby union which I expect: judging delays, huge hits, generic hatred of Leicester Tigers, I could go on. Yet there’s always one thing that never ceases to amaze me: the atmosphere.

On Saturday, 65,827 filled the Stadio Olympico; 67,225 filled Murrayfield: 82,319 filled Twickenham. This averages out to 71,790 per match. Patriotism overtakes everyone and the fan-song fills the air alongside the cockerels, daffodils and men in drag. BBC’s ‘Game of Thrones’ sequence was the perfect tonic for this year’s Six Nations- for a couple of hours, fans don the paint and defend the glory of their country off the pitch whilst the world-class athletes settle the affair.

I was actually in Dublin for the last day of the Six Nations. Having watched the Ireland game in our England shirts, my friends and I took our seats at the back as the Irish faithful filtered in. We cheered for England, they cheered for France- I found myself seething with passion. And yet, when the final whistle blew, all was done and dusted: we left defeated but dignified.

In September, there will be no staggered broadcasts, no calculators, no ‘ifs’- just rugby. Forget ‘I’m not supporting anyone’. In September, passion will reach a new level at this once-in-a-lifetime event.

‘Exhilaration’, ‘Intensity’, ‘Tension’- times Ten!